Chapter 26: Chapter 26
As the delivery guy rang the doorbell, Steven opened it and took his pizza. It was 9 p.m. Maya was in her room, and she hadn't come out since she arrived. Steven knocked on her door twice, but she didn't open it. He waited for some time, had his dinner, and left half for Maya.
He knocked again at 10 p.m. Maya ignored him, even though she wanted to open the door. She was still having trouble dealing with what had happened the previous day. Steven said, "If you don't come out or let me in, I'll break the door, I swear. And I'm not joking."
He heard her coughing. "So you're alive in there. Stop ignoring me and open the damn door."
"Leave me alone," Maya yelled.
"I cannot. That's not why I waited for you. I cannot leave you alone anymore," Steven muttered, making sure she didn't hear him. He spoke again, "Open the door, Maya. Please," this time softly, Maya… I'll be here unt…"
She opened the door, her hair in a messy bun, wearing short trousers and a sweatshirt. Steven chuckled as he looked at her. "Don't laugh at me. I know I'm a mess," Maya said, pouting. Her cheeks were red, and her eyes were puffy.
"No, you look cute. Can I come in?" Steven asked.
"Yeah. Oh, I see you ordered pizza."
"Yes. Have some," Steven said, placing the pizza on her table.
"Why do you always order food? Isn't it bad?"
"Yes, thanks for your concern. But I cannot cook," Steven replied.
"Maybe I can try cooking for you. I mean, if you want. I guess," Maya said, stuttering a little.
"I don't want to put any pressure on you. But thanks," he said.
"It won't be a problem since I cook for myself for dinner only. We have lunch at the office. Breakfast is easy with cereals. So it's not pressure."
"Is it? Alright, if you insist. Do I have to pay for it or something? I mean, it's still labor," Steven asked.
"Um, yes," she said.
"How much?"
"Um, let me think… wait… (browsing her phone)… Here." She gave her phone to Steven.
"Orphanage? Uh huh? What's with that?" Steven furrowed his eyebrows.
"You can donate my pay here," Maya smiled.
"Alright, it's not a problem, but I guess your pay is not much," Steven retorted.
"Yes, that's why I'm telling you to donate here, so you have to add some from you too."
Steven chuckled as she spoke. "Alright, alright. Okay with me. I'll donate."
"Thanks. Actually, I donate to an orphanage too. Once a month. I started donating when I was in England. I visited some orphanages from time to time. Somehow it made me feel relaxed. It just became a habit now," Maya retorted, walking toward the balcony. Steven followed her.
"I haven't seen you visiting since coming here."
"I guess I'm healed. That's why I haven't visited. But I still want to contribute."
"I never knew you thought like that," Steven said, patting her head, making her blush.
They were silent for some moments until Maya spoke, "Steven? Why me? Why do you even like me?" Steven seemed not surprised at her question. It looked like he had been waiting for this moment to come. He chuckled softly before looking at her. They looked at each other at the same time.
"You wreck my world upside down Maya. Every time I see you, I feel like I cannot get enough. I wish I could look at you all day long. There's no reason to like or hate someone, Maya. People just do. I loved you. I still do. I don't know what you may think of me loving you when you were in a relationship, it was wrong, I know. But I could not just stop this stupid feeling. Trust me, I tried. But now, I don't know if this will continue or if I'll have a new start."
Maya's body shook as response, "I'm sorry, Steven, for making you wait."
"It's okay. You didn't know," Steven spoke, his head down.
"Why were you still in love when you knew I was in a relationship?"
"I didn't want to… Seriously, I didn't want to. It was pathetic, one-sided love. But I didn't want to stop either."
"Aren't you tired of it?" Maya said, looking at the sky.
"I am, Maya," he sighed.
"I'm sorry, Steven. I really am."
Steven avoided the topic and said, "Wanna go for a ride? Looks like it will rain. I wanted to have a ride with you in this weather."
"Alright. Somehow, I feel like going too."
...
They were sitting in the car, sipping coffee. The weather was cold as it was raining. It was quiet, both listening to some music playing on the radio.
"Can I recommend a song?" Maya asked.
"Sure, what is it?"
"Hitorijanai (not alone)," As she said, both chuckled together.
"That's the first song I listened to with you… alone," Steven retorted, playing the song from Spotify.
"Unlike the last time, I'm really feeling the song now," Maya said. Steven looked at her, wanting to know what she meant. Maya softly laughed and said, "I feel like I'm not alone." Steven smiled, averting his eyes to the road.
"But I do… I do, Maya," Steven's word trailed off.
Silence appeared once again and was broken by Steven. "Can I not expect an answer from you by now?"
"Steven…" Maya said quietly, as she found sadness in Steven's eyes.
He cut her off saying, "Maybe I should try leaving this one-sided love behind."
Somehow Maya found herself hurt as Steven spoke. She couldn't even look at him after that. The car was filled with endless sighing, coming from Steven. He really looked pitiful. The coldness increased even more.
"Want me to turn off the AC?" Steven asked, noticing Maya's hands shivering.
"If it's okay with you," Maya retorted, looking outside the window.
"Alright… It's past 12, we should go back now," Steven retorted, earning a nod from Maya.
...
"Thanks for today, Maya," Steven retorted, as they were going to their rooms. Maya just smiled. Steven smiled back.
...
Seeing that Tiffany was not around, Nira got a chance to have a little chat with her colleagues before lunch. It wasn't a hectic day, but they had to pretend to be working as Tiffany had Hawkeye's eyes. Nira pulled her friends' chairs near to her. Kobe almost yelled at her while it became normal to Maya.
"Tiffany isn't around," Nira retorted.
"If she finds us like this…" Kobe panicked.
"No worries. She went to Stone. She is not going to come back here before lunch break," Nira said with an evil smile. Maya furrowed her eyebrows, "What do you mean?"
"I don't know. She doesn't come back once she enters his room. Who knows what they do! I've never seen her working, to be honest," Nira replied, scratching her head. Maya looked a bit disappointed.
"Having no chance with Mr. Thompson, maybe she's giving her best to Stone," Kobe said.
"What the heck! The way you guys are explaining seems rotten. Stone is not that type of guy," Maya fired.
"We actually didn't mean anything bad about him. We meant her," Nira explained.
"Ah." Maya sighed.
"By the way, heard the new rumors?" Nira asked, excited.
"About me, again?" Maya sighed, face-palming.
"Well, of course. You might not know, you're the biggest hit of this year. No one was ever able to be shipped with Mr. Thompson."
"What is the rumor?" Kobe asked.
"Well now, Mr. Thompson has a one-sided love, that's what they are saying. Can you believe it?"
"No way. What in the world!" Maya exclaimed in horror.
"I believe it, well, kinda. The way he has always been protecting and caring for Maya, it seems like that. Man knows man the best. He is the CEO, and he even beat up a guy for her. It's not an easy thing to do when you have a public face. Anyway, never mind," Kobe said, looking at his watch. "Lunch time. Let's go," he added.
"You're kinda right, actually. He never treats anyone like that… Wait, wait… I'm coming too," Nira ran to catch Kobe as she didn't notice that Kobe had already left.
"Maya, aren't you coming?" Nira asked, looking back.
"No, I'll pass today," she said, worried.
Why am I so confused about this? It's not even possible, I know that, right? Mr. Thompson is the CEO. Well, Steven would do that too (pouting). I mean, he almost punched Emmett too. Wait, what am I even thinking! Get a hold of yourself, Maya. She slapped her face to snap back into reality.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone